A man died after fleeing an attempted stop by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and crashing into a tree, police said.
The vehicle caught fire after the collision near McKendrick Street and Century Avenue at about 7am on Sunday 20 September. The driver, who was the only person inside, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Grand Rapids Police Chief Joe Trigg said ICE agents had attempted to stop the vehicle near Hall Street and Century Avenue shortly beforehand. The driver then sped away at what he described as “excessive speeds” before crashing about a mile from the attempted stop.
Grand Rapids police were not involved in the initial incident and said they had no knowledge of it before officers were called to the crash. Investigators have also said they have been limited in obtaining information from federal agents about what happened before the collision.
Because of the circumstances, the police department requested assistance from Michigan State Police. Governor Gretchen Whitmer has since directed the state force to carry out an independent review of the law enforcement actions surrounding the incident.
US Representative Hillary Scholten said she had written to the acting director of ICE seeking answers about the agents’ actions. The Department of Homeland Security and ICE had not immediately responded to requests for comment, according to local reports.
The investigation into the fatal Grand Rapids crash remains ongoing.
